Retail self-storage solution

Abstract

A method for depositing items into a storage facility includes receiving a request for storing an item, providing information descriptive of the item. The information is received from the user. A vehicle type that is adapted to transport the first item is determined based on the information received from the user. A first location, where the first item is available for pickup, is determined. A storage facility for storing the first item is determined. The storage facility is associated with a physical address, and the physical address of the storage facility corresponds to a second location. A vehicle that matches the determined vehicle type is dispatched to the first location with instructions for picking up the first item and delivering the first item to the second location such that the first item can be stored at the storage facility.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for depositing items into a storage facility, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for storing a first item;   requesting information be provided describing the first item;   receiving the information;   determining a vehicle type that is adapted to transport the first item based on the information received;   determining a first location where the first item is available for pickup;   determining a storage facility that can be used for storing the first item, wherein the storage facility is associated with a physical address which corresponds to a second location; and   dispatching a vehicle that matches the determined vehicle type to the first location with instructions for picking up the first item and delivering the first item to the second location such that the first item can be stored at the storage facility.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information descriptive of the first item includes at least one of the size and weight of the first item. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first location corresponds to a location of a kiosk or to a location provided by a user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a QR code for the first item and associating the generated QR code with the first item for record-keeping purposes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining image data illustrating the first item for verification purposes. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising prompting a user whether the user has a second item that needs to be deposited into the storage facility in addition to the first item. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein, when the user indicates that the user has a second item to deposit, the method further includes:
 requesting the user to provide information that describes the second item; and   receiving the information that is descriptive of the second item from the user,   wherein, when the user provides the information that is descriptive of the second item, the determination of the vehicle type includes taking into consideration the information that is descriptive of the first and second items such that the vehicle type can fit and transport both the first and second items.   
     
     
         8 . A storage system comprising:
 a processor; and   a non-transitory, tangible, program storage medium, readable by the storage system, embodying a program of instructions executable by the processor to perform method steps for depositing a user's items into a storage facility, the method comprising;   receiving the user's request for storing a first item;   requesting the user to provide information descriptive of the first item;   receiving the information from the user;   determining a vehicle type that is adapted to transport the first item based on the information received from the user;   determining a first location where the first item is available for pickup;   determining a storage facility for storing the first item, wherein the storage facility is associated with a physical address which corresponds to a second location; and   dispatching a vehicle that matches the determined vehicle type to the first location with instructions for picking up the first item and delivering the first item to the second location such that the first item can be stored at the storage facility.   
     
     
         9 . The storage system of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one computer that is located at a kiosk for providing the user with access to the program of instructions with method steps for depositing the user's items into the storage facility. 
     
     
         10 . The storage system of  claim 9 , wherein the kiosk is located at a publically accessible location. 
     
     
         11 . The storage system of  claim 10 , wherein the publically accessible location is a residential building, a parking garage, a postal office or a retail business. 
     
     
         12 . The storage system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one of a printer and a camera communicatively coupled to the at least one computer, wherein the printer is configured to print a bar code or QR that is associated with the with the first item, and wherein the camera is configured to obtain an image of the first item together with the bar code or the QR that is associated with the first item, or an image of the bar code or QR without the first item. 
     
     
         13 . The storage system of  claim 9 , wherein the first location corresponds to a location of the kiosk. 
     
     
         14 . The storage system of  claim 9 , wherein the kiosk is supplied with at least one of a bin, a garment bag, a ski bag and a bike bag for storing the first item therein. 
     
     
         15 . The storage system of  claim 8 , wherein the program of instructions with method steps for depositing the user's items into the storage facility is accessible to the user through the internet. 
     
     
         16 . The storage system of  claim 8 , wherein the program of instructions executable by the processor is further configured to dispatch the vehicle with a driver to a third location for picking up the first item a the third location such that the first item can be delivered to the second location. 
     
     
         17 . The storage system of  claim 9 , wherein the program of instructions executable by the processor is further configured to perform method steps for retrieving the user's items from the storage facility, the method for retrieving the user's items from the storage facility comprising:
 receiving the user's request for retrieving the first item from storage; and   dispatching a vehicle to the second location with instructions to pick up the first item and to deliver the first item to the first location, wherein the dispatched vehicle is of a type that has been determined to be adapted to transport the first item.   
     
     
         18 . The storage system of  claim 8 , wherein the information descriptive of the first item includes at least one of the size and weight of the first item.